Paper stock flow control apparatus



Feb. 6, 1968 BENNETT 3,367,829

PAPER STOCK FLOV! CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1IZCQZ? Feb. 6, 1968 w, BENNETT 3,367,829

PAPER STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1964 v 3 Sheets-Sheet2 F, 5 1/ .5; #5 y! Feb. 6, 1968 w. N. BENNETT 3,367,829

PAPER STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3United States Patent OfiFlce 3,367,829 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,367,829PAPER STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS William N. Bennett, Fitchhurg, Mass.,assignor to Fitchburg Paper Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,500 9 Claims. (Cl. 162-336)The principal object of this invention resides in the provision of theelimination of the conventional headbox which is ordinarily theinitiation of the direct paper making process particularly in a papermaking machine utilizing a Fourdrinier wire.

The headbox of the prior art is a reservoir of prepared stock thatsupplies the Fourdrinier wire. These headboxes take many forms, somebeing relatively simple while others are complex. In either case, theintended purpose of the headbox is to transfer the stock flow forinstance from normal piping on the inlet side to that of an even, flat,uniform flow across the wire on the exhaust side.

Between the inlet area and the exhaust (wire) slice there have beenincorporated in the past various mechanical devices to attempt to combatexpected flow problems particularly pulsations which form waves on thewire. Each innovation in the prior art was designed to eliminate or torectify a particular poor characteristic of normal hydraulic flow. Someof these devices are holy rolls, disc rolls, a combination of theserolls, various kinds of bafiies, and single and multiple slice outlets,etc.

Problems within the headbox are not limited to that area alone but aresometimes created even prior to the stock entry into the box. Pulsationsfrom pumps, hydropulpers, etc. are often readily carried off through theliquid to the mass within the box, through the slice and onto the wire.In cases where these pulsations happen to be synchronized at a poorfrequency for good paper making, the formation is adversely affected,regardless of adjustment or the mechanical devices which may have beenput within the box itself.

The present invention eliminates the headhox and instead controls theflow of the stock in such a way as to substantially eliminate any kindof pulsation or wave form in the stock as it issues onto the Fourdrinierwire, this resulting in a greatly improved, more uniform and much higherquality paper. This is done in large part by providing for a controlsystem that leaves the stock free, i.e., it is not impeded, as by theusual headbox slice as it approaches the apron and proceeds to the wire.

Some of the advantages derived from the present invention relative tothe free flow of the paper stock, etc. reside in easier control of theconsistency of the stock, i.e., the water ratio to the pulp by weight;greater explosion action for improved dispersion of stock within theflow to the wire; the elimination of the pulsations usually derived fromthe commonly known stock preparation equipment, including the fan pump;the elimination of the slice board to the end that the stock flows overa dam in free condition, the amount or weight of the stock flowing overthe dam being controlled by simple means adjusting a novel flow controlbox for easy control of the rate of stock flow onto the wire from theapron, together with the use of a novel fish scale pattern on the apronand at other points which creates an even and homogeneous flow of thestock.

Furthermore less water is necessary to be used because of better mixingof the stock due to the explosion and more complete dispersion of thestock; and a shorter wire can be used because the web is formed muchmore quickly avoiding the extra water necessary to carry down the wireto the dandy rolls. Also there is less loss of fines and fillers becausethese usually tend to pass out with the water in the normal wiredrainage, but with the present invention which allows the use of ashorter wire there is less wire drainage.

Furthermore more uniform color can be obtained by the use of the presentinvention because no mechanical beating after the stock leaves the stockchest of any kind is employed and this again lessens or eliminatespulsations. Further, the present machine is much easier cleaned in allits parts and easy adjustments thereof lead to better automation, thepresent invention eliminating mechanical devices formerly thought to beneeded such as holy rolls, etc. Even the shaker can be omitted and thereis less maintenance and cleaning needed.

However the invention has one main object in view which is to provide animproved end product, i.e., in the paper, and this involves the factthat the level of the water in free flowing condition over the darn fromthe novel control box, down the apron to the wire, is very minutelycontrollable in a very simple and efficient manner, and thus the paperis made more level across the web.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly set forth inthe appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the entire stock flow system fromthe stock chest to the Fourdrinier wire;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the stuff box, parts beingbroken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the mixing box and the mufflerbox on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section showingthe flow control box on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a view in front elevation, looking in the direction of arrow 5in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the flow control box.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows the entire free flow system andin order to illustrate the same the parts have been showndiagrammatically, these parts being shown where necessary in greaterdetail in FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive.

The reference numeral 10 indicates an intake pipe leading from the usualbeater chest into container 12 which is the machine stock chest. Thestock chest has an outlet at the bottom as at 14 so that the stock flowsto the stock pump 16, being forced out of the pump through a pipe 18.This pipe will have a continuous flow of stock in it proceeding in anupward direction and this stock is in pulsative condition due to thepump. A shut-off valve 20 is usually inserted in this line.

The stuff box is shown generally at 22. This stuff box receives thestock from the stock pump to the left-hand side of a baffle 24, overflowof the stock flowing over the top of this baffle into the overflowportion 25 thereof and back into the stock chest through the pipe 28.This causes there to be at all times a constant level of the stock inthe stuff box.

The stuff box has an outlet at 30 through which the stock escapes into apipe 32. A plug valve 34 partially closes the opening at 30 according tothe consistency of the stock. This plug will be opened more when thestock runs light and closed to a greater degree when the stock runsheavy so that the proportion of pulp in the stock is always maintaineduniform in the mixing box.

The stock descends from the stuff box through the pipe 32 to the mixingbox 36 which is provided with a chest or container 38 and spaced baffles40 and 42. Clear water when needed enters through a pipe 44 betweenbaffles 40 and 42 and runs under baifle 40 through the passage at 46into the area between a wall of container 38 and baffle 40. TheBroughton water also enters here from a pipe 3 43. This water is derivedfrom the Fourdrinier wire through the conventional Broughton box 50.

The white water enters the mixing box in the chest 38 through a pipe 52and this is derived from the Fourclrinier also more or less in the usualmanner, and such devices as the Savol, sump pump, etc. are used. Thewhite water enters the mixing box in close association with the stockemerging from pipe 32 into chest 38.

This mixture then descends through the pipe 55 into an adjustablereactor generally indicated by the reference numeral 58. This particularportion of the device will be explained in greater detail hereinafter,but in general the pipe 56 widens out into a conical form at 6%). Anadjustable cone-shaped member 62 having side walls at 6% which conformto those at 60 is positioned in a complementary arrangement thereto toform a narrow conical passage. If the member 62 is adjusted too fardownwardly it will completely close the opening of pipe 56. When movedupwardly it will widen the gap which forms a narrow passage throughwhich the stock passes into the chamber 66. In the area at 68 explosionstake place for dispersion of the flocs in the stock to provide fordispersion and also helping to eliminate pulsations. This explosion isdue to the difference in head at the cone and the mixing box.

The stock then passes through an aperture 75, into a chamber '72 thencedownwardly in a pipe "/4 to the fan pump 76. This fan pump forces thestock up through the pipe 78 but also forms pulsations therein as in thepipe 18. There is a by-pass 8t) and shutoff valve 82 as may be expected.

Pipe '78 may lead into auxiliary stock cleaning equipment as may bedesired and then the stock is passed into the mutlier box 84, beingexploded once again in the area 86 by the conical member 83 coactingwith the conical funnel-shaped part 9t? of pipe '78. The muffler box isprovided with a bathe at 92 over which the stock spills into a chamber94 which has an adjustable gate 96 controlling the depth of the flow ofthe stock from this chamber down a distribution trough 98 to the flowcontrol box Edd.

As will be hereinafter described, the flow control box 100 is tiltableon a transverse axis and it is also tiltable on a fore-and-aft axis. Thefore-and-aft axis tilt controls the evenness of tlow of the stock overthe dam which is indicated at 102 after it passes under the lower edgeof the baffle 194. The adjustment of the flow control box on thetransverse axis determines the rate of flow of the stock over the darn102 down onto the apron or distribution trough whence the stock passesto the wire.

The distribution trough at 98 and the apron at we are both preferablyprovided with fish scale formations such as are described in mycopending application Scr. No. 299,659 filed Aug. 2, 1963.

With the use of the scales at either one or both of these places, thestock moves a greater distance in the same amount of time due to thefact that the scales tend to cause fluid material to run in acriss-cross pattern rather than straight ahead through the passages ordown the various inclines. Therefore the scales act to further mix anddisperse the stock in addition to the explosions already provided andthey act to speed up the flow thereof to result in even more agitationand better dispersion of the stock when it reaches the wire.

Through the use of the above generally described apparatus and system,the stock pours down the incline 106 as over a darn very evenly andunder extreme con trol, with no pulsations or waves and no thin or thickspots. The usual headbox is completely done away with as is also theslice of the headbox, and one of the important parts of the inventionresides in the provision of the flow rate control box which not onlydetermines the evenness of how but also the amount thereof by a verysimple and easily operated means. Also it will be seen that there are nomoving parts in the entire system with the exception of the pumps, butthe pulsations from the pumps are eliminated and since there is noagitation by mechanical means such as discs or holy rolls, etc., thestock as it approaches the Eourdrinier is smooth, consistent, even andlevel and therefore provides for a greatly improved quality of the paperas well as a faster formation thereof due to the fact that a shorterFourdrinier wire can be used and the formation is formed immediatelyafter or very shortly after the stock leaves the incline or the apron at106.

Referring now to FIG. 2 wherein is shown on larger scale the details ofthe stuff box 22, it will be seen that in the forward wall at N8 of thisbox there is provided an opening or hole 39. The plug 34 is preferablyin semicircular form as is also the guide means or pipe 112 in which itis slidably located, thus providing a fiat face on plug 3-4 whichoverlaps the opening 30 so as to provide an adjustment leaving itpartially open at any point between the ends thereof.

This plug is moved up and down to control the flow cf the stock from thestuff box to the mixing box according to the consistency of the stock,so that when the stock runs heavy the gate is closed somewhat from itsnormal position, and when the stock runs light the gate is opened to agreater degree, thus controlling the percentage of the stock as it movesto the mixing box where it is mixed with the white water and Broughtonwater so that it will be seen that the consistency of the pulp isthereby controlled.

The baffle in the mixing box 36 controls the head, as the overflow ispassed over this baffle down to an overflow drain in the chamber 114.The battle 40 is adjustable to vary the width of the gap or passage 46as may be desired or necessary and the chest 38 receives the clear waterand Broughton water over the edge of its wall and also receives thestock and the white water as previously described.

If desired the conical element 62 and the surface at 60 may be providedwith fish scales but it is important that the member 58 be verticallyadjustable as for instance by a hand wheel 116 which may be threaded asmay be needed in a fixed nut M8 for this purpose. It is pointed out thatthe explosion above described caused by the member 62 in cooperationwith surface 6'0 occurs due to the diflerence in head pressures betweenthe point where the explosion takes place and the top of the baffle 42which controls the head.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 showing the flow control box, thereference numeral 120 indicates a transverse pivot rod mounted on a base122 and in brackets 124 attached to a platform 126. This platform isprovided at its rear with a threaded rod 128 which can be turned inorder to elevate or depress the rear end of the platform 126 and as willbe described the flow control box is mounted on the platform 126 so itis therefore easily adjustable about the axis of the rod 120. It will beappreciated that with the controlled flow system this action willcontrol the depth of the flow over the dam 102.

On the base 126 there are provided a pair of brackets 128 mounting arocking rod 139 which extends lengthwise from front to rear of the flowcontrol box and on which the flow control box may be mounted as at 132,etc. An ofiset adjusting screw 134 is provided and as best seen in FIG.5 this will cause the entire flow control box to tilt about the axis ofthe rod 130, thus leveling the flow of stock over the dam which ofcourse has a hori- Zontal top portion. The screw or bolt 134 actsagainst a spring 136 so that when the screw 134 is backed off the boxwill be self-leveling.

The scale surface trough 98 is preferably connected at its lower end tothe rear wall lfltl of the flow control box by a piano hinge or the like138 for adjustment of trough 98 with respect to the box and a rubberseal or the like 140 can be utilized in contact with a cylindricalsurface 142 to form a seal at this point. Also the area between the damTh2 and the rear wall 1% an adjustable member 144 can be used to adjustthe pond depth of the flow control box.

The distribution trough at 106 is provided with scales as shown in FIG.4 and as illustrated in my copending application above identified. Thisis done by applying a rubber or plastic embossed sheet having the scaleson it to the distribution chute 106. This is indicated by the referencenumeral 146 in FIG. 4. These sheets are removable and replaceable butthey are of different thicknesses for variations in scale size, so thatit is preferable to have a very fine adjustment for the scale sheetthickness. This is provided by means of the inclined surface at 148forming a bottom portion of the distribution chute 106. In contact withthis member there is a supporting bracket or arm 150 which has acorresponding inclined surface thereon and is connected by means of afastener of any desired description as at 152 which extends through anelongated slot or the like 154. Thus it will be seen that by looseningthe fastener 152 the distribution chute 106 can be adjusted in adirection parallel with its plane in order to accommodate scale sheetthicknesses as may be desired.

The distribution chute 106 as Well as the supporting arm 1511 aremounted on an axis at 156 for rotation between the solid line positionthereof in FIG. 4 and the dotted line position, this being a full rangeof adjustment as may be necessary. At the ends of the pivot rod 156there are provided friction nuts or the like 158 and it is preferredthat the distribution chute 196 can be adjusted by hand quickly andeasily as may be required.

There are also provided a pair of brackets 160 which can be mounted onthe control box in any desired manner and each bracket mounts a threadedrod 162 surrounded by a spring 164, and each rod is provided with a wingnut or the like 166. The rods 162 pass through and support side wings orstock guides 168, 168 mounted on hinges 170, 170. The operation here isthat by turning the Wing nuts 166 the stock wings or giudes 168 aremovable in and out with respect to the width of the Web. These sideguides 168 thus provide for a slight gap at the edges of thedistribution trough 106 over which the stock may flow and this avoidsthe usual eddies and unevenness in the flow due to friction of the stockagainst the side guides, at the same time resulting in very little lossover the edges of the distribution through 106.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to 'be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. Stock flow control apparatus for a paper making machine: comprising(a) a stock chest;

(b) a stulf box interconnected to said stock chest to receive paperstock therefrom;

(c) a mixing box disposed to receive paper stock from said stuff box;

(d) stock control means coacting with said stuff box to regulate theflow of stock issuing therefrom according to the consistency thereof;

(e) means coacting with said mixing box to provide fresh water and whitewater to said mixing box;

(f) an explosion chamber interconnected to said mixing box to receivepaper stock therefrom;

(g) a muffler box coacting with said explosion chamber to receive thestock therefrom;

(h) a flow control box coacting with said muffler box to receive thepaper stock therefrom;

(i) said flow control box including a dam and a pond;

(j) tilting means coacting with said flow control box to tilt same in apredetermined manner to vary the relationship of the pond and dam andthus the amount of stock flowing over the dam; and

(k) means coacting with said flow control box to conduct the fluid stocktherefrom.

2. The stock fiow control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tiltingmeans tilts the flow control box on an axis transverse to the directionof stock flow.

3. The stock flow control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tiltingmeans tilts the flow control box on an axis parallel to the direction ofstock flow.

4. Flow rate control apparatus for a paper making machine comprising (a)receptacle means for the receipt of paper stock;

(b) dam means disposed in said receptacle means to accumulate paperstock to a predetermined depth therewithin;

(c) said dam means including an upper edge over which the stock flows infree condition out of said receptacle means;

(d) tilting means mounting said receptacle means for a movement about anaxis parallel to said upper edge of said dam means to control the amountof stock flowing thereover; and

(e) leveling means coacting with said receptacle means to position saidreceptacle means to provide a. substantially constant level of stock insaid receptacle means.

5. The flow rate control apparatus of claim 3 wherein said levelingmeans includes means coacting with said receptacle means for adjustingsame on an axis disposed at right angles to said upper edge of said dammeans.

6. The flow rate control apparatus of claim 3 including (a) adistribution chute extending from said dam means to receive said stockas it flows over said upper edge of said dam means, and to conduct sameaway from said receptacle means;

(b) means mounting said distribution chute for movement about an axistransverse to the direction of stock flow to vary the position thereofabout said axis and thus vary the inclination of said distributionchute;

(c) holding means coacting with said distribution chute to hold same inany adjusted position thereof.

7. The flow control apparatus of claim 6 including (a) a multiple scaleformation disposed upon said distribution chute;

(b) said scale formation being directed in the direction of stock flowand extending across said distribution chute in a generally regularorder; and

(c) said scale formation coacting with the stock as it flows thereoverto direct same in a substantially regular criss-crossing pattern.

8. The flow control apparatus of claim 7 wherein said scale formation isdisposed on a separate and removable sheet.

9. The flow control apparatus of claim 8 including (a) means mountingsaid distribution chute so that said scale formation is disposed on aplane substantially tangent with said upper edge of said dam; and (b)adjustment means coacting with said mounting means for adjusting saiddistribution chute so that said scale formation may be adjusted inplanes parallel to said tangent plane to thus accommodate differentthicknesses of sheets and to maintain said scale formation in said planetangent with said upper edge of said dam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,819 5/1912 McIntyre 162-2611,451,659 4/1923 Hockman 137-92 2,272,970 2/1942 Frymoyer 137-922,444,668 7/1948 Poirier 13792 2,748,670 6/1956 Beachler 162-264 DONALLH. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner.

J. H. NEWSOME, A. C. HODGSON,

Assistant Examiners.

1. STOCK FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A PAPER MAKING MACHINE: COMPRISING (A) A STOCK CHEST; (B) A STUFF BOX INTERCONNECTED TO SAID STOCK CHEST TO RECEIVE PAPER STOCK THEREFROM; (C) A MIXING BOX DISPOSED TO RECEIVE PAPER STOCK FROM SAID STUFF BOX; (D) STOCK CONTROL MEANS COACTING WITH SAID STUFF BOX TO REGULATE THE FLOW OF STOCK ISSUING THEREFROM ACCORDING TO THE CONSISTENCY THEREOF; (E) MEANS COACTING WITH SAID MIXING BOX TO PROVIDE FRESH WATER AND WHITE WATER TO SAID MIXING BOX; (F) AN EXPLOLSION CHAMBER INTERCONNECTED TO SAID MIXING BOX TO RECEIVE PAPER STOCK THEREFORM; (G) A MUFFLER BOX COACTING WITH SAID EXPLOSION CHAMBER TO RECEIVE THE STOCK THEREFROM; (H) A FLOW CONTROL BOX COACTING WITH SAID MUFFLER BOX TO RECEIVE THE PAPER STOCK THEREFROM; (I) SAID FLOW CONTROL BOX INCLUDING A DAM AND A POND; (J) TITLING MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FLOW CONTROL BOX TO TILT SAME IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER TO VARY THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE POND AND DAM AND THUS THE AMOUNT OF STOCK FLOWING OVER THE DAM; AND (K) MEANS COACTING WITH SAID FLOW CONTROL BOX TO CONDUCT THE FLUID STOCK THEREFROM. 